Portable stretching device receivable as a case

ABSTRACT

An exercise device for conducting push and pull type exercises includes a non-track slippery member for being moved toward and away from a stationery member. A spring biasing member may bias the slipper member toward the stationery member, and may couple the members together when the members are superposed together to form a compact case structure. The spring biasing member preferably includes an endless loop structure received in grooves of the members. The stationery member has one or more anti-slip pads, and the slippery member has a slippery layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to a portable stretching exercise device receivable as a portable case, and for conducting push and pull type exercises.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Various kinds of typical exercise devices have been developed for exercising legs or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,549 to Thomson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,530 to Cosby, U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,884 to Hankin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,266 to Ricard, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,935 to Wang disclose five of the similar typical exercise devices.

[0005] In these typical exercise devices, two supporting members, such as foot pedals or seats are slidably secured along one or more tracks, and to be moved along the tracks, such that the tracks and the supporting members form a huge volume that may not be easily carried or moved or used by the users.

[0006] In addition, the track members should be made of metal materials, and thus include a great or heavy weight. Furthermore, the foot pedals or the seats or the supporting members may not be superposed with each other, and thus may not be folded or stored to a compact volume or structure.

[0007] The other typical exercise devices provide a spring-biased wheel member received in a hand-held housing for exercising the waist portion of the users. However, the typical exercise devices also made of metal materials and comprise a heavy weight that also may not be easily carried with the users.

[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercise devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device including two non-track supporting members that may be superposed with each other to form a compact case structure and that may be easily carried or moved by the users, and that may be easily moved and supported in any planar surface at any places, for conducting push and pull type exercises.

[0010] The further objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device which includes a structure that may be easily manufactured with a mass-production process.

[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exercise device for conducting push and pull type exercises, the exercise device comprising a non-track stationery member for being disposed and supported on a supporting ground, and for supporting user, a non-track slippery member for being slipping on the supporting ground, and for being moved toward and away from the stationery member, and a spring biasing member coupled between the stationery member and the slippery member for biasing the slipper member toward the stationery member. The stationery member and the slippery member may be superposable together to form a compact case structure, and the spring biasing member may be coupled between the stationery member and the slippery member for carrying the stationery member and the slippery member when the stationery member and the slippery member are superposed together.

[0012] The stationery member and the slippery member each includes a groove formed therein for receiving the spring biasing member. The spring biasing member preferably includes an endless loop structure received in the grooves of the stationery member and the slippery member.

[0013] The grooves of the stationery member and the slippery member each includes a semi-circular shape or a semi-elliptical shape for receiving the spring biasing member. The spring biasing member may include two ends secured together to form the endless loop structure thereof.

[0014] The stationery member and the slippery member each preferably includes two half elements secured together and having the grooves formed therein for receiving the spring biasing member.

[0015] The stationery member includes a first surface having at least one anti-slip pad disposed thereon for engaging with the supporting ground.

[0016] The slippery member includes a first surface having a slipper layer disposed thereon for slipperily engaging with the supporting ground. The slippery member preferably includes a cushioning sheet disposed between the slipper member and the slipper layer. The anti-slip pad is preferably attached to the peripheral portion of the stationery member for forming or defining a space within the anti-slip pad, and for receiving the slippery layer of the slippery member.

[0017] The stationery member and the slippery member each includes a securing member attached thereto and engageable with each other, for openably securing the stationery member and the slippery member together.

[0018] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of an exercise device in accordance with the present invention, as viewing from one direction thereof, in which the exercise device is folded or received in a compact storing position;

[0020]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the exercise device, as viewing from the opposite direction thereof as that shown in FIG. 1, in which the exercise device is also folded or received in a compact storing position;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the exercise device, as seen from the bottom of the exercise device;

[0022]FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the exercise device, in which the two supporting members of the exercise device are separated from each other, or are opened or disposed in an opened working position;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view illustrating the formation of the exercise device;

[0024]FIGS. 6, 7, 8 are top plan schematic views illustrating the other arrangements of the exercise device; and

[0025]FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12 are plan schematic views illustrating the operation of the exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an exercise device in accordance with the present invention comprises two non-track supporting members 10, 30, such as a stationery member 10 having one or more pads 11 (FIG. 3) attached to one side, such as the bottom side thereof, for engaging with the supporting surface or ground, and for positioning the stationery member 10 on the supporting ground, and for preventing the stationery member 10 from moving relative to the supporting ground.

[0027] The pads 11 may be made of rubber or plastic or the other synthetic materials that are not slippery and that may provide a resistance or anti-frictional force between the pads 11 and the supporting ground. The pads 11 may be secured onto the stationery member 10 with adhesive materials, by welding processes, or may be detachably secured onto the stationery member 10 with such as the hook-and-loop fastening members.

[0028] The other supporting member 30 is a slippery member 30 and includes a planar or slippery sheet or layer 31 attached to one side, such as the bottom side thereof, for engaging with the supporting surface or ground, and for allowing the slippery member 30 to be moved relative to the supporting ground. For example, the slippery layer 31 is made of plastic or synthetic materials that have a slippery outer surface for slipping and moving relative to the supporting ground, and for allowing the slippery member 30 to be easily moved relative to the stationery member 10.

[0029] The slippery layer 31 may also be directly secured onto the slippery member 30 with adhesive materials, by welding processes, or may be indirectly secured onto the slippery member 30 via a cushioning or spongy sheet 32. The provision or the attachment of the cushioning sheet 32 between the slipper member 30 and the slippery layer 31 allows the slippery layer 31 to be slightly deformed when the slipper layer 31 and the slippery member 30 are moved over uneven or bouncy ground or supporting surface.

[0030] A resilient or spring biasing member 20 is further provided and coupled between the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30. The stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 may each include a channel or groove 14, 34 formed therein for receiving the spring biasing member 20, and for allowing the spring biasing member 20 to be resiliently coupled between the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30, and thus for biasing or moving the slippery member 30 backward or toward the stationery member 10.

[0031] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 each includes a semi-circular or semi-elliptical groove 14, 34 formed therein, and the spring biasing member 20 includes an endless structure or a loop shape and having two ends secured together, or having two separate portions received in the grooves 14, 34 of the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 respectively, and for allowing the spring biasing member 20 to be solidly and stably received and coupled between the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30.

[0032] As also shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 are made of spongy, rubber, foamable, or synthetic materials, and each includes two half-elements 13, 33 each having the grooves 14, 34 formed therein for receiving the spring biasing member 20. The half-elements 13, 33 may be secured together by such as the adhesive materials, or by welding processes, or by hot-pressing processes.

[0033] For example, the half-elements 13, 33 may be secured together after the spring biasing member 20 has been engaged into the grooves 14, 34 of the half-elements 13, 33; or may be secured together first, and threading or engaging the spring biasing member 20 through the grooves 14, 34 of the half members 13, 33 of the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30. The spring biasing member 20 may include two ends secured together after the spring biasing member 20 has been threaded or engaged through the grooves 14, 34 of the half members 13, 33 of the stationery member 10.

[0034] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 9-12, the stationery member 10 may be stably supported and positioned on the supporting ground with the anti-slippery pads 11. The users may have the knees (FIG. 9), the buttocks (FIG. 10), the feet (FIG. 11), or one of their knees (FIG. 12) disposed or seated or supported on the stationery member 10, and may have the hands (FIGS. 9, 11), the feet (FIG. 10), or the other feet (FIG. 12) supported on the slippery member 30, for moving the slippery member 30 toward and away from the stationery member 10 against the spring biasing member 20, and for conducting push and pull type exercises.

[0035] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring biasing member 20 may include two ends 22 secured together by a rod 21 or two rods 21 (FIG. 7), or the like. As shown in FIG. 8, the spring biasing member 20 may include two ends secured to two rods 21 respectively that are received or secured or retained in the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 respectively.

[0036] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 are not supported on tracks, and may be superposed with each other to form a compact case structure. The spring biasing member 20 may be formed as a coupling member between the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30, for coupling the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 together, and for allowing the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 to be easily carried with the spring biasing or coupling member 20.

[0037] The stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 may each further provide a fastening member or locking member or latching member or securing member 16, 36 attached thereto, such as the hook-and-loop securing members 16, 36 attached thereto, for engaging with each other, and for openably securing the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 together, or for maintaining or retaining the stationery member 10 and the slippery member 30 at the superposed case structure as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the pads 11 are arranged on the peripheral portion of the stationery member 10, for forming or defining a space 12 within the pads 11, and for receiving the slippery layer 31 and/or the cushioning sheet 32 of the slippery member 30. The exercise device is good for mass production.

[0039] Accordingly, the exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes two non-track supporting members that may be superposed with each other to form a compact case structure and that may be easily carried or moved by the users, and that may be easily moved and supported in any planar surface at any places, and that may be easily manufactured with a mass-production process.

[0040] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise device for conducting push and pull type exercises, said exercise device comprising: a non-track stationery member for being disposed and supported on a supporting ground, and for supporting user, a non-track slippery member for slipping on the supporting ground, and for being moved toward and away from said stationery member, and a spring biasing member coupled between said stationery member and said slippery member for biasing said slipper member toward said stationery member, said stationery member and said slippery member being superposable together to form a case structure, and said spring biasing member being coupled between said stationery member and said slippery member for carrying said stationery member and said slippery member when said stationery member and said slippery member are superposed together.
 2. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said stationery member and said slippery member each includes a groove formed therein for receiving said spring biasing member.
 3. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said spring biasing member includes an endless loop structure received in said grooves of said stationery member and said slippery member.
 4. The exercise device according to claim 3, wherein said grooves of said stationery member and said slippery member each includes a semi-circular shape for receiving said spring biasing member.
 5. The exercise device according to claim 3, wherein said grooves of said stationery member and said slippery member each includes a semi-elliptical shape for receiving said spring biasing member.
 6. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said spring biasing member includes two ends secured together to form said endless loop structure thereof.
 7. The exercise device according to claim 2, wherein said stationery member and said slippery member each includes two half elements secured together and having said grooves formed therein for receiving said spring biasing member.
 8. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said stationery member includes a first surface having at least one anti-slip pad disposed thereon for engaging with the supporting ground.
 9. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said slippery member includes a first surface having a slipper layer disposed thereon for slipperily engaging with the supporting ground.
 10. The exercise device according to claim 9, wherein said slippery member includes a cushioning sheet disposed between said slipper member and said slipper layer.
 11. The exercise device according to claim 9, wherein said stationery member includes a first surface having at least one anti-slip pad disposed thereon for engaging with the supporting ground.
 12. The exercise device according to claim 11, wherein said stationery member includes a peripheral portion having said at least one anti-slip pad disposed thereon for defining a space within said at least one anti-slip pad, and for receiving said slippery layer of said slippery member therein.
 13. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said stationery member and said slippery member each includes a securing member attached thereto and engageable with each other, for openably securing said stationery member and said slippery member together. 